Family of jogger killed on Siesta wants alcohol ban

Parents, sister of Donna Chen, killed Jan. 7 when she was hit by a fleeing driver, set up an online petition to ban alcohol at Siesta Key beach

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a letter submitted to our opinion page from Dinise MacPhail, the sister of Donna Chen, who was struck and killed while jogging on a Siesta Key road.

I submit this on behalf of my parents. Their daughter, my sister, Donna Chen, was tragically taken from us while jogging with her dog Barney Jan. 7 on Siesta Key.

There are many to blame for this tragedy, but none more significant than the three young people at the Siesta Public Beach concession area, drinking alcohol into a state of oblivion. Several families at the beach and concession area told sheriff's deputies these individuals were creating a problem and exhibited disruptive and disorderly conduct and were "out of control." This was apparently going on at midday, between 11:30 and 12:45; the accident occurred between 1:10 and 1:15 p.m.

We understand the deputies used their judgment and chose not to arrest all three, allowing two to leave the concession area. Shortly thereafter, the crash occurred.

There appears to be a money link for the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce and local government, allowing the promotion of alcohol at public venues that take place on the beach. On Florida's west coast, most communities have strict ordinances restricting beach alcohol.

Please sign our online petition to avoid another senseless tragedy. Support a ban on alcohol at Siesta Public Beach. Go to: http://www.change.org/petitions/community-ban-drinking-on-siesta-key-beach-spare-a-drink-save-a-life.

Our family has lost one of our most prized possessions. Three young children and a dad, and no mom to come home to.

We thank all for their support in our time of sorrow.

Barney is OK. Visit him at the Celebration of Pets Day at Robarts Arena on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.